Track brace



W. DUNN..

TRACK BRACE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24. 1920.

Patented July H, 1922.

v l/VVE/VTOR y ATTORNEY WILLIAM DUNN, OF BANNACK, MONTANA.

TRACK BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1922.

Application filed December 24, 1920. Serial No. 432,899.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it knownthat 1, WILLIAM DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Bannack, in the county of Beaverhead and State of Montana,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Braces, of which the following is a specification.

The principal obj ectof my invention is to provide a track brace for railroads, that is adjustable for various sizes of rails to support them in an upright position at a fixed distance apart. Other important and incidental objects will be described in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially in section,

showing the assembled brace applied to a railroad track. Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the wedge shaped sleeves for drawing the clamping plates together. And Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the clamping plates.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numerals 1, 1 designate the two rails of a railroad track. Clamping plates 2, 2, which are preferably constructed of steel and of the shape shown in Figures 1 and 3, are provided. The clamping plate 2 has a horizontal base portion 3. At the inner end of the latter and at one side of its center line, is a lug 4 raised above the surface of the base portion so that the lower surface of the lug 4 is on a line with the upper surface of said base portion. On the other side of the center line of the base portion 3 is a similar lug 5 that is lowered below the surface of said base portion so that the upper surface of said lug-5 is in line with the lower surface of said base portion. These lugs 4 and 5 project beyond the edge 6 of the base portion 3.

The edges 6 of the base portions of the two clamping plates 2, 2 on each rail, are adapted to rest against each other. The lugs 4 and 5 on each plate are spaced apart at different distances from the center line thereof, so that the lugs on one clamping plate do not register with the holes formed in the surface of the other plate, by the lugs on that plate. (See Figure 3).

At the outer end of the base po tion 3, each clamping plate 2 is bent upward and back upon itself to form an acute angle with the base portion 3, to form. the portion 7. At a suitable distance from the base portion 3 the clamping plate 2 is bent downward from the surface 7 to form the portion 8 adapted to press against the upper surface 9 ofthe base of the rail 1. The clamping plate 2 is bent upward near its upper end to form the portion 10. The upper edge 11 of the clamp ing plate 2is shaped to hear on one side of the web 12 of the rail 1. The bend in the clamping plate between the portions 8 and 10 is made so the upper edge 11 will clear the fillet in the rail 1 between the web 12 and the base 9.

Passing through a hole 13 in the clamping plates 2, 2, but not touching the plates, is a rod 14 that rests against the under side of each rail 1. This rod 14 is threaded at each end to receive nuts 15, 15. Lock washers 16, 16 of a well known constructionfare placed against the inside facesof the nuts 15, 15 to prevent the latter from unscrewing when the traclrbrac'e is secured in position.

Mounted on the rod 14 are wedge-shaped sleeves 17 17 (see Figures 1 and 2). The sleeve 17 is a cylinder having a hole 18 parallel to its outside cylindrical surface, but eccentric to it. The rod 14 is free to slide through the hole 18 in the wedge shaped sleeve 17. One end 19 of the latter is square with the center line of the hole 18. The other end 20 is at an angle with the center line of said hole 18 and adapted to bear on the outer surface 7 of the clamping plate 2.

A sleeve 21 free to slide on the rod 14, is mounted on the latter between the inner wedge shaped sleeves 17. A spacing collar 22 also mounted and free to slide on the rod 14, is placed between the sleeve 21 and one of the inner wedge shaped sleeves 17.

To apply the track brace to a track, the parts are assembled as shown in Figure 1 and the nuts 15, 15 tightened. The rod 14 is placed in tension, while the sleeve 21 and collar 22 are placed in compression. This action presses together the two wedged shaped sleeves 17, 17 adjacent to each of the rails 1, 1 respectively. The angular surface 20 on each of the wedge shaped sleeves 17, 17 presses horizontally and downwardly on the angular surface 7 of one of the clamping plates 2, 2. The lower side of the hole 18 in the wedge-shaped sleeve 17 presses the rod 14 upwardly against the under side of the base of the rail 1. This wedging action against the clamping plates 2, 2 on each Side of a rail 1, causes the clamping plates to be pressed together at their lower edges 6, 6. The upper portion 8 of each clamping plate 2 is pressed downwardly against the upper side9 of the base of the rail 1 to clamp the rail hetween the clamping plate 2 and the rod 14;. Tlhe upper edges 11 of the clamping p ates tar pres ed irm y g ns t sides of, the'web 12 of the rail 1. This clamping action on the webs 12, 12 of the ails l ds in h l ngthe rails in a pright position, and also holds thema fixed distance apart. may be varied by varying the thickness of thespacing cellar i It is thus seen that my track brace will adjust itself to various sizes of rails and will clamp them securely in an upright position a fixed distance apart. The clamping pres-t sure on each of the rails is equalized tlltOugh the sleeve 21 t0 maintain the same pressure on each clamping plate 2. I Having described my invention, I claim: 1'. In aiderice cf the type described, the cenihinationwith apair 0t" rails in track alinement, of compressionflnieans between said rails, a tension member passing beneath the rails and bearing on theundersnrface of each on a th latter, a clamping pla bearing on each side of the web of each rail and the upper surface of the base of the lat.

This spacing of the rails ter, and wedge-shaped sleeves mounted on the tension member between the ends of the latter and the ends of the compression means for the purpose specified.

2, In a track brace, the combination with a pair of rails in track alinement, of a tension member passing beneath the rails and bearing; against the under side ofthe base of each of the latter, a compression sleeve loosely mounted on the tension member between the rails, a clamping plate bearing on ach side of t b of a h ai aacl the upper s fa e o the base of t e-lat er, and dgeehap d lee m untedon he tension m mb b een the ends o the latter and the ends, of the compression member for the purpose specified, 1

3. In a track brace, the combinatiOnWith a pai of ai s n t a k a i m nt of a e sion member passing heneaththe rails and bearimg against the under side of the base of each one of the latter, a compression member between the mile, a clamping plate bearing on each. side of the web of each rail and downwardly on the upper surface of the base of the latter and wedge-shaped sleeves mounted on the tension member between the ends otithe latter and the compression rnemher, and bearing upwardly on the tension ember and angularlv downwai 'tl on the clgnnpin plates, for the purpose specified. a In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of December, 1920.

WILLIAM DUNN. Witness:

E, UNDERwoon. 

